Will certain sexual taboos never be considered permissable under any conditions?

Question

People often complain about how society has become too permissable in that there seems to be an "anything goes" type attitude.

However, do you believe that certain sexual taboos will never be considered permissable under any conditions, such as incest, bestiality, necrophilia, and pedophilia? In the last case, there are actually a few groups in existence that try to promote what they call "inter-generational sex".

A few years ago while taking a university summer course, I had a professor who condoned incestuous relationships, as long as they were "consensual". At first I thought he was just joking or playing devil's advocate. However, in one of the his articles which the class had to read for homework, he mentioned that as a teen, he actually lusted after his older brother.

While I consider myself to be an open-minded person, I found that to be extremely disturbing. Even gay friends of mine found that to be quite gross.

Answer 1

If you look back at history, you can find many cultures and times where most of the taboos we observe today were regularly practiced, and even approved of. It is impossible to say what will happen in the future, what events may occur to change the general perception of what behavior is permissible or not. We may have legitimate reasons for forbidding a particular behavior, but everything changes in the ebb and flow of history. The behavior of those people who complain about how permissive society has become, would have been shocking to an even earlier generation - for example, a girl showing an ankle in the late 19th century would have drawn gasps and frowns of disapproval from the matronly dowagers of their age. It's important to remember that each society works out for itself the behaviors it needs to regulate.

Answer 2

I hope I don't live long enough to see incest, bestiality, necrophilia, and pedophilia mainstreamed. But in the last few decades the sex industry has done their best to break down the taboos on a lot of things like S&M and with much success. So who knows how far they can carry things. You only have to read here at Yahoo Q&A to see that younger and younger kids are accepting things that were viewed as degrading just 10-15 years ago.

Answer 3

I am an open minded person, but we need some rules if only to protect the innocent. W e dont need to go back (in reference to Roman times) but forward. Just because someone consents does not always mean they know what is best especially if they are young and innocent. You need to think of the long term effects.

I do healing work and sometimes I have clients who have been victims of some of the above you mentioned, and believe me they have scarred so bad that their whole lives have suffered.......

Sex is a wonderful thing between consenting Adults, but barriers should be encouraged, if you drift off onto peverse things then disasters do happen, someone will get hurt.

Your teacher should have been reported, he is in charge of students and some of which may be gullible, he should keep his thoughts to himself. You have morals never be ashamed of them.
I have not heard of intergenerational sex but I suppose it sounds better than being called a paedophile.
I am a Christian but give me l hour with one of these people and I think I would make sure they went off sex for ever.....

Answer 4

While there "seems" to be an anything goes attitude, society also maintains its double standards for men and women and is still very repressive in many ways.

The key things to consider in looking at taboos are why are they taboo and who/what does the action hurt. In the case of incest, if it is consensual and not producing children, there is little to say against it other than "I was raised thinking that it is wrong therefor it is."

Answer 5

For some reason there are many freaks teaching in school and the church. You know whats right and wrong. Maybe it is OK for him to do something with his brother's consent. However, you don't write about if you are a sensible person.